Jaz Klash, The Angel, Smith & Mighty...

Denise Benson
Fri, 17 Apr 1998 14:43:16 -0400


hey ya'll,

Nice to see talk of Jaz Klash, The Angel, 4 Hero and many things related.

>I've been getting into the bits of stuff that I have by 4 Hero and The
>Angel pretty heavily of late. Both are apparently scheduled to drop albums
>in the near future, and I can't wait! So, any of you good people care to
>make some recommendations about their best remix work? What are some
>essential 4 Hero or Angel bits that I really have to have?

Like many of you, I'm totally hyped to hear the full 4 Hero album,
apparently set to drop in early summer. Dego is on the current Reinforced
'Enforcers' tour (w/ DJ's Stretch & Rebel and MC Mad) that's been moving
across North America. They hit Toronto tomorrow night at Reverb
(yeah!!!)...hopefully we can get the scoop on release dates & will pass
along.

The Angel has done loads of stuff, including remixes of everyone from
Pharcyde to Monday Michiru (she's also produced some tracks on Monday's
forthcoming lp) to Frente. I still really dig her re-working of Donald
Byrd's 'Kofi' and collaboration w/ Jacky Terrason - both on the Blue Note
'New Groove' comp. She's done loads of work w/ MC Mystic, Cokni
O'Dire....is producing Jacky Terrason's first new album in ages...is
working on some new Jaz Klash stuff w/ Rob & Pete (More Rockers), and wayyy
more. Brilliant remixer/producer. For a full discography and details on
current projects, check her web site at www.pacificnet.net/~dgp. Her
(other) main project of late has been under the group name of 60 Channels.
She works here with a lot of different players and vocalists, including
Cokni O'Dire, Angie Hart and others......WOW! The handful of tracks I've
heard are totally 'n absolutely fantastic! Some atmospheric beat
stuff...some leftfield d'nb...Should definitely put her name further out
there as a producer to be reckoned with. They're shopping the album now -
hopefully we'll all get to hear it in the not-so-distant future.

More on the Jaz Klash tip...
>I've been excited ever since I heard about this group. It is a marriage
>between 2 of my favorite things ... jazzy hip-hop and bristolian drum and
>bass represented by 2 of the best (Angel and Rob Smith of More Rockers and
>Smith and Mighty). If anyone's got any proof that its out in Canada or
>the US, please share it.

Yup, 'tis true. We at Iron Music have released the Jaz Klash 'Thru the
Haze' album (cd) in Canada - it hit the streets 'n stores in March.
Excellent album as found on the Cup of Tea label, which Iron licenses for
release in Canada and (to a slightly more limited extent) the U.S. The
album really is excellent (as is the import only double 12" w/ remixes of
'Thru the Haze'), and does manage to bring together the live
instrumentation of a number of players w/ tight drum & bass production.
Smooth. There's a strong likelihood that the Jaz Klash crew will do some dj
dates in Canada this summer....I'll post here when I know more.

On a related tip, Smith and Mighty (now incorporating *both* members of
More Rockers) are doing a mini-tour of the U.S. this May in order to
promote the DJ Kicks release they just did as part of the !K7 series. I
don't have exact details, but if anyone does....please post!

and t-t-t-that's all folks. over 'n out.

-d-

-denise benson-

"Mental Chatter"; Mondays 11am-2pm, CKLN 88.1FM
"Glide"; Wednesdays at Gypsy Co-op, 817 Queen St. W.
National Beat Promotions, Iron Music Canada 416.537.9700 x23